Let The Games Begin!

   The Olympic Flame for the upcoming Winter Games in Sochi, Russia was lit this weekend at a ceremony on Mount Olympus in Greece, using rays from the sun. The torch now starts a 40 thousand kilometre relay through 9 times zones in Russia, before lighting the cauldron in Sochi for the February 7-23 games. It will be carried by a hot air balloon and a nuclear sub among others.
   I had the privilege of seeing the torch for 2 different Olympic Games. The first was when I was in Prince Albert, and saw the flame for the Calgary Games come through.
   And in Regina, I not only saw, but got to hold, one of the torches for the Vancouver Games. Unfortunately, no one in the station I was working for at the time had a camera, since it was a chance encounter when a representative of one of the sponsors just happened to stop by after 6:00 p.m.

Closed

   The notorious Kingston Penitentiary has closed. The first wing was built way back in 1835, and the prison ended up being the home of inmates like Paul Bernardo, Clifford Olson, Russell Williams and Steven Truscotte, who's conviction was overturned in 2007. Most recently, the Pen housed 410 of the nations most dangerous prisoners, with many..like Paul Bernardo..held in protective custody. All have been moved to other institutions.
   So, what's going to happen to what inmates called "KP" now? Like several prisons in the U.S (Alcatraz among them), it's going to be turned into a tourist destination. It's already been designated a National Historic Site.
   In fact, tickets for the first tour have been sold out. The question which I'll ask actually answers itself. Why would someone pay to get inside a place so many wanted to get out of? Curiosity. That's the simple answer. A chance to see where the worst of the worst caught in the Canadian justice system spent time. Just like Alcatraz in California.
   Would I be willing to pay for a tour of what was one of the longest used prisons in North America? Yes. I probably would. Just as I went into a former German bunker in Norway when the Nazi's occupied the country in World War II. Curiosity. Plain and simple.

TTFN

Sold Out!

   She's RCMP Barbie, and all 300 of the dolls have sold out, including 100 shipped to the RCMP Heritage Centre in Regina. The RCMP's official retailer, the Mountie Shop, says more of the $29.99 dolls are on order, but it will take a while to get them into stock, if at all. Manufacturer Mattel says 11 thousand of them were made, and there are no plans to put them back in production. They were part of the company's "Dolls of the World" collection
   The RCMP themselves are admittedly a little taken back by the popularity of what was to have been a limited edition Barbie, who is dressed in the familiar Red Serge, Brown Stetson and Strathcona boots. And the actual name is Canadian Barbie.
   The strange part of this is the doll actually hit the shelves back in May, and it wasn't until the RCMP Heritage Centre put out a tweet Monday that sales took off.
   And in case you were wondering, there's one item on the Canadian Barbie that wouldn't pass muster. Her long hair would normally be pulled into a bun.

TTFN

Hello World!

   And welcome to my blog. A little about myself this time, before I get rolling on other items. I am, in fact, Craig Wallebeck, and I do have more than 30 years experience in radio, with most of them in Saskatchewan. I am currently in Yorkton, and spent 16 years in Regina. I've also worked in Thunder Bay, Ontario..Prince Albert, Sask. High River Alta, Prince George B.C and Peace River, Alta. As you can see, I've been around a bit.
   Working in this industry has provided me a great opportunity to meet, greet, talk with and sometimes grill people I would never have had the chance to in any other profession. I've been granted the chance to speak with Premiers in 4 different provinces, and I even had the chance to interview people who saw the John F. Kennedy assassination firsthand in Dealey Plaza in Dallas almost 50 years ago.
   And while it's great to be able to say that, what drives me, and continues to do so, is what some people call "the daily grind". Doing local stories, speaking to local people. That's the bread and butter of this industry, not doing the "Big Story".
   And now having the fantastic opportunity in Yorkton. I've been to all the fall "Supper in the Field" events, where we take a catered meal to an area farmer's place. These are marvellous, and the people I've met..with no exception..have been great.

TTFN (Ta-ta for now).